Brazil Supreme Court chief Edson Fachin warns of judicial pressure, backs election ruling

Supreme Court President Edson Fachin said the judiciary is facing internal pressures, unilateral sanctions and undue constraints that breach respect between sovereign states. He linked these threats to the attempted coup in January 2023, noting the STF became a focal point for authoritarian and populist forces. The comments were made at the opening conference of the VI Brazilian Congress of Law and Public Policies in São Paulo, following a recent meeting with UN special rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite on judicial independence.

Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet defended a decision by Justice Minister Flávio Dino that changed the timetable for the supplemental election in Roraima, keeping the vote scheduled for 21 June 2026. The ruling, which alters the required disqualification period for candidates, came after a request from STF President Fachin to review a parliamentary motion seeking to overturn Dino’s order. The dispute occurs amid severe flooding in the Amazonian state, which has complicated logistical preparations for the election.